8

Ruff

(Philomachus [Calidris] pugnax)
: "Reeve" (female)

German name(s): "Kampfläufer"
Size: 29-32 cm (male), 22-26 cm (female);
wing span 54-60 cm (male), 46-49 cm (female)
Weight: 180 g (average; male), 110 g (average; female)

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Ruffs are medium-sized waders. Their plumage is highly cryptic. They are dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. In addition, both sexes have different breeding and non-breeding plumages. Ontop of that, male Ruffs have about the largest variety of patterns (in both plumage and the colour/s of the bill) in the bird world. Therefore, this description can only serve as a general guideline (see photos below).

Males in eclipse and females in eclipse are quite similar. However, note that females are generally much smaller than males. If/when seen together, the sexes can be told apart by their size. Both sexes in eclipse have a grey head, with darker grey striation on the cap and the sides and nape of the neck. They have off-white eye-rings and an off-white base to the bill. Also the chin is off-white. The chest is lightly-barred greyish-brown, while the rest of the front is white. The back and wings are dark grey-brown, with lighter grey edge lining. The main distinguishing feature is that males have an orange-brown base to their bill.

Breeding females have a light-brown front with darker blotches from chin to chest. On the back the light-brown edges are much broader than in eclipse. Otherwise the plumage remains roughly the same.

Senior breeding males gradually grow black feathers on chest and belly as the breeding season progresses, giving them a spotted front of white with some black, while the lower belly, vent and undertail coverts are off-white to light-grey. The back shows more brown than in breeding females. In addition, and after moulting into the general breeding plumage, males have an extra moult to produce the ear tufts and the fringe of feathers around the neck that gives them their name. Older, well-established males have a black cap with erectile feathers forming black ear tufts and a ruff that is barred brown and black at the front and black when seen from behind. Younger, lower-ranking males on the fringes of a breeding colony/area tend to have grey and white ruffs. This ruff is extensive, covering the entire neck. In a breeding colony males with a large variety of colours and patterns in their plumages will be found, with no two looking exactly the same. During the breeding season males have warty orange skin from the base of the bill to the sides of the head, surrounding the eyes. Both sexes have dark irises.

Breeding males tend to have an orange-brownish bill, while in eclipse the bill has a dark tip. Females and juvenile birds have a dark-grey bill. The bill of all Ruffs has medium length (similar to the size of the head) and is slightly downcurved. The legs and feet of both sexes are orange-brown; usually the colour is brightest during the breeding season and duller in eclipse.

Juveniles have a plain light-brown to creamy front and neck and a cap with dark striation and their back is dark-brown with light-brown to creamy edge lining on the feathers. Juvenile females are in general more brownish than juvenile males and the scalloping on their back is less pronounced than in males.

The correct identification of waders ("shorebirds"), e.g. of the Calidris, Tringa, Actitis etc. or of the Charadrius, Pluvialis and related genera in the field can be quite tricky. We have therefore made an attempt to give some advice HERE.

Taxonomy, classification

See Ruff at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org .

The global distribution of the Ruff is available HERE .

The Ruff is a strongly migratory species. They are found primarily in Eurasia, but also - to a lesser degree - in North America, along both the East and the West coast (hence on all northern continents). Their breeding grounds are located mostly in Arctic Eurasia, but also in temperate climate areas. The birds of the European/western Asian population winter in parts of Africa (along the West and North coast, but also down the Nile valley and throughout East and South Africa). Others stay in Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East and (near-)coastal Arabia. Birds from central/eastern Asia migrate to the border region of Pakistan and India and further down the Indian West coast. Others winter far-eastern and south-eastern Asia; some reach Australia. During their migration they can be found almost anywhere between breeding and wintering grounds.

In Europe the Ruff is widespread and can be found in suitable wetlands almost anywhere, mostly during migration, but some also spend the winters in the Mediterranean and along parts of the Bay of Biscaye. Their breeding grounds are located in Scandinavia and north-eastern Europe. Some breeding sites are known along the Atlantic coastline, northwards from the northern Bay of Biscaye, along the Atlantic coastlines of northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, isolated areas along the English coastline, and parts of the Danish, German and Polish coastline on both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, but also some wetlands in inland Poland and the Baltic states.

During the breeding season Ruffs have a preference for taiga bogs, marshes, swamps, submerged grassland, but also seashores. Outside the breeding season they are found more generally in any type of wetland with shallow water.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

D. Wilczynska reports spotting a flock of Ruffs in wetlands along the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, and in Biebrza NP, Poland, during the 2017 breeding season, from March to May. In August 2019 juveniles were found along the river Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, indicating successful breeding in that region.

M. Eaton reports spotting Ruffs near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018.

J. Pires reports finding Ruffs occasionally in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal, to Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal. Birds are seen there mostly in July-October, during their autumn migration at the end of the breeding season, but some also overwinter in the Tejo estuary.

Photos

ADULT

BREEDING

MALE

Breeding male Ruffs display an enormous variety of plumages. We have created a small GALLERY OF EXAMPLES.

Near-frontal view of a senior male Ruff in full breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a senior male Ruff in near-complete breeding plumage; except for the still missing ear tufts, this bird has the "classical" appearance of a senior male, with a black head and front, white belly, vent and undertail coverts, scalloped/barred brown to dark-brown back, orange-brown bill and warty skin around the eyes (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a senior male Ruff in near-complete breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of two male Ruffs in very different breeding plumages - senior rank on the left, junior on the right
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Lateral view of a snoozing male Ruff in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Ruff in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of two senior male Ruffs in near-complete breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

This lateral view of a male Ruff has captured the moment when the bird had gone through the general moult into breeding plumage (back, belly), but has not started the additional moult for the ear tufts and ruff yet (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a male Ruff in partial breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Two senior male Ruffs, centre and right, that have finished their general moult, but do not have ruff or ear tufts yet, and a more junior male left, with a partial ruff, indicating near-complete breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Female Ruff, left, junior male Ruff, 2nd from left, a more senior male, 2nd from right and a senior male on the right
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Ruffs in partial breeding plumage; note the characteristic white sides of the tails (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Ruff in breeding plumage foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a female Ruff in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a female Ruff, possibly still in breeding plumage(?) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2019]

PAIR

Frontal view of a senior male Ruff in full breeding plumage courting a female
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a male, left, and a female Ruff in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Mix of male and female Ruffs that are moulting into breeding plumage; senior male, left, junior male, 2nd from left, and two females - note the size difference: the females are smaller than the males (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Junior male Ruff, left, with a partial ruff, indicating near-complete breeding plumage, and a female on the right
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

NON-BREEDING

MALE

Near-lateral view of a male Ruff in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of a male Ruff in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of a male Ruff in non-breeding plumage; note the pale orange base of the bill
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Ruff in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of two male Ruffs in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Mix of male and female Ruffs that are moulting into non-breeding plumage; the males have an orange base to the bill and are taller than females (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2018]

Mix of male and female Ruffs that are moulting into non-breeding plumage, together with other waders
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2018]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Ruff in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of two female Ruffs in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

PAIR

Female Ruff, left, and male, right, that are moulting into non-breeding plumage, together with a Black-winged Stilt
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2018]

Mix of male and female Ruffs that are moulting into non-breeding plumage, together with other waders
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Ruff foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Ruff (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Juvenile Ruffs standing in shallow water (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Juvenile Ruff, left, in comparison with a Common Greenshank (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2019]

Behaviour

Male Ruffs have elaborate courtship displays and they also fight over the right to mate with females. They grow their elaborate ear tufts and ruffs not only to impress females, but also the male competition. The way they go about this has earned them their name "pugnax" (pugnacious).

Frontal view of a male Ruff in full breeding plumage courting a female (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Frontal view of a male Ruff in full breeding plumage courting a female, different part of the display
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a male Ruff in full breeding plumage courting a female (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Male Ruff in full breeding plumage, right, trying to impress a female, also in breeding plumage, left
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Male Ruff trying to impress a female while pursuing her (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Male Ruff pursuing a female (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Rough Ruff cock fight... (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Ruffs feeding in a marsh in inland Poland (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Flock of Ruffs feeding and courting in a marsh in inland Poland (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Wider overview of the area in which the flock of Ruffs was found (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Flock of Ruffs taking off at sunset, presumably to fly to their roosts (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

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